In honor of Star Wars day tomorrow, I’m speaking my truth: I like Attack of the Clones. The second of the (perhaps unfairly) maligned Star Wars prequels is the film that introduces viewers to Hayden Christensen‘s grown-up Anakin Skywalker, as well as kicks off the Clone Wars — which then unfolds in an objectively better animated series. It’s not the best Star Wars script ever written, but without it, we wouldn’t be able to laugh at Anakin’s tirade against sand. In spite of the script, other elements make the movie worth revisiting: the John Williams score that includes his iconic “Imperial March,” some really fun action during the Battle of Geonosis, Yoda flinging himself around during a lightsaber battle with someone three times his size, Ewan McGregor‘s everything. Since this is, after all, a recommendation, here’s my actual recommendation: switch your brain off, put Attack of the Clones on, and accept everything at face value. It’s a much more enjoyable watch that way.
Photo: Everett Collection
